How has PALGN affected your life?

[Dani]

I had a thought while I was searching through old threads. I found an old thread called "Life as a gamer, a forum goer, a nerd?". Some of you may remember it. I made one of my first posts there on my old account. And I thought about how much my life has changed since that post.

I decided to make a little survey if anyone is bored enough to take the time and reflect, because I'm a curious person. You can copy and paste the below and answer in non-bolded font below each question.

[Jarrod]

PALGN took my wife. My children. My life.

And from beyond the grave, I will have my revenge.
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[Dani]

lol, nvm looks like it's gonna get buried. Oh well was worth a try

[Spacecow]

I'll give it a shot, haven't been here that long though

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

Last year June-ish. I wanted to buy some Pikmin toys from a seller in the game exchange. Sadly they were sold when I messaged the buyer....

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

PS3 + DS mainly. Since then I've gotten a 360 so I play that occasionally. Genre-wise I've certainly expanded and started playing more indie titles.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

Eh, not really. Maybe down the track...

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Definitely. Basically just a hell of a lot more general knowledge about all aspects of gaming.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Well, I've always wanted to do something in IT, I'm not sure it stemmed from PALGN but I am seriously considering some sort of video game related career pathway at the moment.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

Considering I'm underage and most of the PALGN meets not only include copious amounts of alcohol but usually end up in some sort of over-age bar/function ~ no. Maybe when I'm 18+.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

Met a couple of people for drop offs/pickups but besides that my answer is as above.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Got me a hell of a lot more interested in video games thats for sure. That and it takes up a good portion of my free time. 10 minutes study breaks turn into hour long trawls through threads. Probably my most visited site or at least top 3.
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"Everything's coming up Milhouse"

[Island_Wolf]

Ooooooo, questions and a chance to rant on, I'm on a ranting mood atm .

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?
*checks joined date in profile* 01 Feb 2007. Most likely I was googling.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?
I was always a PC/Console gamer, since around 5. Edit - Lately I rather games that I don't need to be really committed to play as due to my health issues in the past and also adding real life commitments to the mix.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)
I have a habit creating things I keep forget to maintain (liek the Gold Subscription page)... but I will maintain when I am in the mood to. Also if come across gaming bargains (like in steam) I will inform people.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?
I hope so, it's the site where I read gaming news now.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?
No

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?
Definitely.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?
If I'm bothered, creating a PALGN meets and meeting up with people... I just been so busy organising other things.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?
Hell yeah. It seems like only in forums is when people willing to talk about games with me without caring who I am. In real life, unless it is at uni or my old workplace, it seems to send a wrong message to male gamers as I noticed it either makes them uncomfortable or thinks it's an opportunity to go out with me. So yeah, I never get the joy to talk about gaming as much as I want to if it isn't for PALGN, the only gaming site I regularly go to since I am a busy person. Edit - Forgot about the IRC crew <3
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"Work hard now, play even harder later"
I am an Industry Ambassador at Girl Geek Coffees (Sydney)
Unofficial PALGNchat - IRC Client *New Server!*

[Frozencry]

Jarrod just a troll. Mass troll. Fgt.

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?
2005. Entered an FPS competition for FEAR, came second. PALGN was a sponsor for the tourney thing. Also was about time I stopped lurking (lurking since about 2002).

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?
FPS and Adventure/Platformer really. Hasn't changed much. My gaming interests have always been very diverse so if the game is good, I'm there.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)
Well, I've started arguments, wars between PCs and consoles, competitions, entered competitions and won, had massive multiplayer fun with a huge portion of the active community, and also have written several articles now and many original features such as Love to hate and Promode. Been writing for the site for about 3 years now and yeah, I feel like I've done some shifting.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?
Sort of. I'm generally very inquisitive to begin with and I report stuff for the site, so it's more just learning more as I research more/report. Some people I know off the site have given a lot of insight though.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?
Somewhat. I have some interest in writing more, and also some interest in PR and Game Design/3D (which I've had since I was young). The PR part was from meeting all the media people and such over the years.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?
Absolutely. The OP as an example, I consider a very good friend <3 There's like, a billion people on this site that I know, respect and care for quite deeply. Some of my best friends are from this site.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?
An arseload of people. To name a few:
Alex
Dani
Jeremy
Jahanzeb
Adam
Cody
Aftershock
Tina
Answer
Starman
UWSGuy
Mekky
Doppel
Clione
DeathFalcon

That's to name a few. I've likely forgotten some names. I intend on meeting the entire Melb Crew soon as well. I also intend on heading to Adelaide again to see Alex, Dani and Dopp/Josh, and also hopefully meet the Syd crew again.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?
Kinda sorta yeah, definitely. It's a home away from home and honestly I wouldn't have it any other way. I've learnt a lot from a lot of people on this site and have grown as a person in many ways. It may be 'just' an internet forum to some but yeah, this place is pretty fantastic.

Now back to putting on my trolling asshole persona.

<3
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[Puddingfork]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?
The date should be to the left under my name, and I joined so I could try get spoons via mainly referrals and shit reviews (I think my first post is a Yu-gi-oh review) to buy games with...

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?
I only owned a GameCube and a DS, I dreamed of owning a high end gaming PC but I settled for playing BF2 at 15FPS with my Geforce 5500FX. I was able to run CS1.6 pretty good though and would have easily spent about 1000 hours playing that game. I was also active in a DS clan where we played competitive metroid prime hunters, mario kart and tetris DS.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)
Not really, I've won two competitions for lame jokes, that's about it.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?
Directly, a little bit, indirectly a lot

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?
No

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together? Yes, tbh if distance wasn't an issue I'd probably not even bother with 95% of my other friends, unfortunately it is and I like going out and doing things afk, so I have to resort to hanging out with those lesser, non-PALGN people from time to time.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?
Yes, and when I think about it I've met an awful lot too, I haven't had the pleasure of spending as much time with them as I'd like though. I've met members from Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. Some off the top of my head, I'll probably miss some.
QLD: Samboy, Seitou, B3nbo (I think it was him, that was brief), Juiceboy and a lot of other people that don't really post, Benno, Bennos mate
VIC: Lapzod, Theory, Feral
SA: Alex, Dani, Danis brother, Joseph, Duckula, Drop Bear
I'm sure there's some missing from that, sorry if I left you out

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?
Well I spend almost every night talking to PALGNers on IRC and Vent, and will probably do so for a long time to come. It has more effects than that and might have bigger ones in the future, but for now that's the main one.


EDIT: Forgot that I met Benno, I'm ashamed of myself
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Unofficial PALGN Ventrilo Server 203.14.173.58:5704

[Benza]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?
No idea, check what it says under my avatar. Joined because I worked with Gizmo and needed something to do instead of working.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?
Pretty similar to how they are now, I guess I've kind of got hooked on hardcore difficult memorising pattern games since I joined though (megaman, contra etc) that doesn't relaly have much to do with Palgn though.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)
Haha nope. Other then bringing the average amount of swearing up and the level of inteligent discourse down.


4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?
nope

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?
nope

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?
Does it count as friends if you've only ever talked to em on palgn? Honestly I don't think Palgn had much to do with getting a long with the people I've met. I would have probbably felt the same way about them regardless.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?
haven't actually met anyone from Palgn in real life. But I did get my copy of Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts signed by Jibbs, does that count?

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?
Other then killing a lot of time and helping me procrastionate. Not really.

Can you feel hte love?
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[Jarrod]

PALGN taught me I can troll anytime, anywhere.

EDIL: I'll give a serious answer when I'm not stupid tired.
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[Pagan's Mind]

I like these question and answer topics .

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

Around June 2009 but I had visited the site on occasion a couple of years before then. I joined because I needed advice on buying a monitor and I found out the people here were very helpful and friendly so I stuck around.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

I pretty much enjoy all genres of gaming and still do. I wouldn't say PALGN has changed my gaming interests but it has certainly got me interested in more video game series.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

I suppose posting in the RPG thread all the time contributed a bit... I hope!

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

It's opened me up to a few games series I had overlooked.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Nope. Never really wanted a career in the video game industry to begin with.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

Absolutely and it's the main reason I love visiting this site so much. I've met some pretty awesome people on this forum .

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

Nope, but then I can count only a handful of users that are from the Gold Coast. If I joined when I was living in Melbourne then maybe it would have been different.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

It's made me play more games that's for sure.

[Joseph]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

29 December 2004 (has it really been that long?). From what I can remember at the time it was because of the release lists.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

Initially I was a massive Nintendo fanboy. I used to be all about the Marios and the Zeldas and the etcs. Since then instead of just owning Ninty products I have expanded to all consoles. So yeah, I'm exposed to a lot of different genres now and play lots of games I never really used to play before like shooters.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

I used to be a staff writer and was one of the top contributors on the site (in terms of the monthly word count). I used to do the Australian Gaming Bargain articles, bargain round-ups, Nintendo Store updates, Xbox Live Deal of the Week articles and the Weekend Steam articles. In addition I used to write other news, previews and review articles and once wrote my own Shopping Guide. Behinds the scenes I did help out a little with some issues that I won't go into detail about since it's not something we should ever make public knowledge.

I think I also saved a lot of people a lot of money over the years! Australian Gaming Bargains is in fine hands at the moment, so it's good to see the torch has been passed.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Yeah, it certainly has. I used to just focus on Nintendo related products but since then I've really expanded my horizon and have a pretty good general knowledge of all things.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

At one point I did have an interest in pursuing a career in writing but I haven't really taken it any further. I don't really see myself interested in that sort of career anymore anyway.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

I've made a few friendships. I won't name names because I don't want to leave anyone out but I think most people I have a friendship are on my facebook friends list. Of note though, my best friend is a man who used to frequent these forums and I started chatting to him on PALGN IRC.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

I've met Dani, Alex, Pudding, Duckula and Drop-Bear. I also work in the same office that Scarv used to work in but despite working for the same department we've never actually met! I really need to go to more of the work functions as I believe I've missed him two or three times because I haven't gone to them. One day Scarv, one day!

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Yes. As I mentioned before I met my best friend through PALGN. It seems strange I class a man I've never met in person (though he's hinted that may change soon) as my best friend but he's really one of the few people that understand me and sees me for who I am. We email and SMS each other on a daily basis, and I honestly don't know where I would be without him. He's helped me through a lot of my problems throughout the years and he's someone who has my trust.
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[Vervain]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?
23 December 2005. I remember joining up after looking at the release list and not being able to find a listing for the PS2 remake of Wild Arms. So I decided to best course of action was to register and post a thread asking if there had been any news. To this date nobody has ever replied to me in that thread.


2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?
I was primarily a J-RPG gamer when I signed up to the forums. While I still play a lot of RPGs now, I've branched out and play a lot more Action-Adventure. Shooter and Platformer games than I did in the past.


3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)
I would like to think that my few reviews and my short role at the helm of the Gaming Bargains and the Release List count as decent contributions to the community. I still count my biggest contribution as E3 last year. I stayed up for 60 hours during the coverage so I could get as many articles done, while also taking my sister to school in the mornings, getting 100% on an Accounting exam and live-blogging 3 press conferences.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?
Very much so. I never really paid attention to any gaming news before joining the site and would just wander into stores and be surprised by what was on offer. This website fixed that.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?
Writing here last year definitely inspired me to take a much more serious look at taking some professional writing courses and trying to make a career out of it as I love to write.


6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?
I've definitely made friends here that I wouldn't have made any other way. The easiest to fit in here are people like Joseph, Denny, Alex, Cody, Todd, Dani, Tina and other interstate members who I wouldn't have had any other way of coming into contact with.


7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?
I've met a whole lot of members thanks to the awesome Melbourne PALGN meets we all organise. On top of seeing everyone at the meets, when I go, I also see Nikack/Jellyfish and FeralOni at least once every week or two after becoming extremely close friends with them.


8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Definitely, it's helped me get back into writing, introduced me to heaps of awesome people, majorly influences my opinions on whether or not to buy games and I've made some of the closest friends I have in real life through it.
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http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-6u9h.html

[Quin]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

19th March 2002. I was persuaded to join by fellow user Hyperworm after the IGN PAL Boards fallout crap. It's hard to believe that happened almost a decade ago.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

I think my tastes have changed little. I've certainly become more of a JRPG player over WRPGs, and I play more action games than FPS (I put this down to Valve and their astronomical development times). Also, before 2005 or so, I didn't know what Super Robot Wars was, now it's probably my favourite series next to Tales Of.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

I used to work for PALGN staff, that counts, right?

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Sort of. Working for PALGN gave me an insight, but it was my choices in university that made me more aware of this. See below.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Again, sort of. When I made the tough decision to quit my previous university course (Diagnostic Radiography), my experiences made choosing what I do now (BSc Computer Games Enterprise with programming as a focus) smoother, in a way.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

I have an odd one here. While times have changed and we've moved on, had a friend of mine I'd lost contact with (Sandrah) not contacted me via this site (My staff profile listed my real name), I wouldn't have gone to Japan for several months in 2005.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

How's Padfoot, GTPod?
(Hyperworm is a long time friend of mine that predates PALGN, and Sandrah...well, the less said the better on that one)

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

I've hung around here for almost 10 years, so probably. It was my No.1 go-to forum between the ages of about 14 and now. Heck, you guys helped me through cancer back in 2003, that's certainly enough.

I wouldn't have gone on to volunteer for CCP Games, or write for RPGamer without PALGN.
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[mrcool37]

So I'm assuming Dani is Ravenous? Are you starting to use this account again?

Anyway, might as well give it a go:

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?
Joined in September 2007, after realising that although a few of my friends love gaming, they don't really talk about it in depth and take no interest in it other than when we meet up once or twice throughout the week for some games nights. Alot of the times they find out about games through me, so I just joined purely to talk about games with others that are into it a bit more heavily than my friends.

I always wanted to become a part of an online community, but places I frequent like inthemix and some other forums are just in it mainly for trolling and contain no actual useful information and discussion. This seemed like the nicest place with minimal trolling and I felt comfortable here, so I stuck with it.


2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?
I was purely interested in Xbox 360 and that console only at the time, mainly sticking to first-person-shooters and the odd 3rd person action game. I have people to thank like Slapshakle (where art thou Slappy?! haven't seen you post for a while) Jahanzeb, Quin and Lapzod for introducing me to the wonders of Ikaruga and old-school shmups. I literally lived in the arcades as a kid due to my father and loved these old school games, but these guys helped show me that the genre has been transferred to the console through Xbox Live Arcade and japanese imports. I ultimately have these guys to thank for my favourite gaming moment this decade, through the gem that is Ikaruga that I never would've known about otherwise. I also have people like Denny to thank through game announcements/hype which basically made me update my graphics card and get back into the RTS genre on PC.


3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)
Kind of a yes/no on this one. Alot of members here check the website multiple times every day, yet compared to other sites there's actually not that many new posts each time I visit. I have been trying to shake things up a bit by trying to provide extra activites to mingle with other PALGNers through my interests such as a poker club and a PALGN "Starcraft League of Extra Ordinary Gentlemen", but I am yet to have any real success with my attempts. The Starcraft league was extremely fun while it lasted, I was introduced to the wonders of Ventrilo, talking to peeps like Denny and Puddingfork and it was going very strong for 3-4 weeks before it collapsed. I hope to get there one day with one of my threads. Have slso done a few spoon raffles as well through the game exchange which were highly successful at the time.


4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?
Not really, I tend not to read many news/features/announcements/preview articles because I like to be surprised when it comes to gaming. As an example, I didn't even know about Super Meat Boy until it was out for two weeks, and it turned out to be my 2nd favourite game this generation. It would've killed me knowing about this game 6 months or so before it was released, and I would've lost all excitement once it finally came out.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?
Nah.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?
Living on the Gold Coast is hard to make real life friendships from these forums, with so many members living in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, but I like to think that a few people here don't hate me and enjoy what I have to say on a rare occasion. Would love to meet peeps like Eckymosis (you better be seeing Kidd Kaos next week!), Matth3w (come back you b*stard), Fetidchimp, Theory, Benza, Jahanzeb, GrimOne, Sinthesys and a host of others one day.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?
See question above.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?
Alot of gaming purchases have been based on other people's opinions from here, and it's sort of a home away from home considering I check it every day, but other than that, not really. I'm still pretty reserved with personal problems which alot of others here aren't afraid to elaborate on, but that's just in my nature.

Edit: How could I forget Bloody Tears! You ok dude? Haven't seen you posting or on live for quite a while, hope everything is OK.

[Sinthesys]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

2007, mainly due to my friends having no interest in games, short of weekend bouts of Halo, Modern Warfare, Smash Bros or Mario Kart. In other words, they are very casual gamers. I found it nice to have an outlet to express my inner geek.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

When I first joined, I wasn't playing many games, mostly PC, partly because of a decreased interest in gaming. After being here a while, I bought a Wii, loved it, neglected it, dusted it off, sold it and bought a 360. Since then, I rekindled my love for console games and neglected the PC completely, short of strategy games. Having a Wii emulator and a 360 controller PC wireless receiver, Ive had my fix of Wii games too.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

I contribute nothing, other than being a royal pain in the arse to some of the posters here. When I get on forums, I tend to be cantankerous and argumentative, mostly because I use it as a form of procrastination to avoid doing assignments. Other than that, in my earlier days here, my only real contribution was probably being the biggest thread/grammar nazi. I probably would have been a horrible mod, so I settled for being an average back-seat mod.


4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

By great strides. Before coming here, I knew next to nothing about the releases of games and only had a vague idea about the difference between the biggest developers and the sorts of games being released. PALGN has basically been my only source of gaming news and I guess through that, I've learnt a lot about how the industry works.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Not one bit.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

Yes and no. I'm not very vocal about who I like and who I don't, but if I've plussed you, it probably means I think you are a funny guy. If I've argued with you, you probably hate me by default. I think of that hatred as a mark of respect, at least.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

No, I haven't met anyone here. There are a few people who I think would be cool to hang out with, but being that I live in Perth, I'll have to remain tucked away behind an avatar.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Sort of. I mean, owning a console and buying games has been a significant money and time sink, so there's that...
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GT: Da Herbalist - Keep on Choppin'

[Big Pete]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

I joined way back in 2003 after my cousin Matt, the editor at the time informed me about the website. As an admirer of his extensive and distinct knowledge on gaming I signed up not long after.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

I was a big gamer when I first joined and would keep up with all the news and gossip and spent the majority of my cash on gaming. Nowadays I spend very little on gaming and naturally I've matured through the years.

As a member I was the resident spammer alongside Benno and both of us had bigger post counts than Obs at one point (true story).

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

Believe it or not but there wasn't an Entertainment Board until I chose to put it up after I won a $poon auction.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Sorry to sound frank but no. I don't generally come here for gaming gossip though.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Again, no.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

Yeah, although I don't keep in contact with them enough following the demise of my hotmail account. Oh how I miss my late night chats with Pixie explaining all her dating moves, NVus introducing me to the world of tea, Cro saving my computer and keeping me up to date on Muse, Pudding for making me proud, Theory saving my ass with my last ever high school assignment, Verv for being a bro, Joseph and our silly chats, Tina for being friendly and DeathFalcon for celebrating the Smashing Pumpkins. *sniff* this one is for you hombres.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

I met Wardie at a random uni party and kept in touch for awhile until he became a little too much.

*stalker* I've also seen Benno at a Westfield once. Would have stopped him but was in a rush and he was on the otherside of the aisle.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Hmmm, not really.
_________________

[Benno]

[myzz]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?
2009
2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?
My initial gaming interests haven't changed much.. I like a bit of everything to be honest. I have been playing more types of RPG's since joining.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)
Not really, on palgn I am more of a looker than a doer.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?
only the R18 legal stuff i would say.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?
No - still in IT lol

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?
Sure, I've met a few people online that I enjoy playing with, Spike and LeonJ would be a noticeable peepz for xbox 360.
Is great fun to just sit back and play some SF/KoF while chatting in a party.
I did enjoy playing with the tekken 6 ps3 peepz (dlo and zero) but since my PS3 was stolen i haven't played with either.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?
Not yet
8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?
It's definitely in my morning routine when I'm at work. the first thing I do is check palgn . It's a great community.
_________________
XBL - myzz
Steam - myzzy
PSN - myzzmang (very inactive)

[Fetidchimp]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

02 july 2007 apparently....i think it came up as an rss feed recommendation from google

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

just gaming in general, i used to love fps, but now they make me meh at them.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

not particularly (well one thing but that will remain a mystery)

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

yes....mainly about the distribution of games around the globe and how we get shafted a lot

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

no

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

well, i assume theory and karai

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

theory
karai
deathfalcon
clione
mike/
vervain
nvus
a13x
gooberman
sin ogaris
eckymosis
spacepony
jediamara
element465 (screw your new name)
feraloni
kaerlis
Nietzsche
cian
admeister
jarrod
bronze
lapzod
doppelgangbang
tristan
tanya
moistflaps
genxevo
subbastard (but i knew him before, he's a cunt)

i think that's all of you, sorry if i forgot.

i still see karai, theory and sin sometimes....and deathfalcon and clione tend to show up to most meets. And i should say i speak to john marston pretty much everyday (i am a twat)

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

i talk more shit than i would have
_________________
kill, kill, kill.....the white man. Kill the white man, kill

[Dani]

Awesome, I've read everyone's replies. Learned a few things I did not know I'll start mine while I have my morning coffee.

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

I actually joined in October 2007. I was a bit silly back in those days in a job I hated so I spent a lot of time foruming instead of working. I made a rant post in the What Ticks You Off Thread about a coworker having too many coffee breaks and somehow work tracked down that one post and I got a massive warning - and lost my friendship with that person, who had never laid eyes on this site before then. So I was extremely worried and asked for that account to be deleted. I still to this day do not know how they found that one post. I know we weren't monitored or I would have been fired a long time ago (I have quit since and have a new job).

I joined because I had no-one in real life who shared my gaming interests.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

Initially I was a Nintendo fangirl who had played Nintendo consoles most of her life with splashes of PS2 games here and there. Since then, I've also got a 360, a PS3, a PSP, I won a PS2 on a cosplay comp here (first time I ever cosplayed in my life), and my bf built a gaming PC for me. The PC sucked a portion of my life away for a while and I went on a hiatus from here while I was a MMO addict, now I'm back to my consoles.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

Not really. I made a few threads here and there but I've largely forgotten most of them due to my hiatus.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Yeah, a lot. It completely expanded my knowledge on different platforms and the benefits of playing them all (current gen). I'm still pretty ignorant when it come to different developers and publishers though...

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Not really...

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

Definitely. The IRC crew, people who no longer frequent IRC but I have on facebook and msn, and various others I've enjoyed talking to over the years. I don't want to mention names because I'm half asleep and will probably miss some. But it has been great to finally have friends to talk to about gaming... just wish more were in Adelaide.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

A few. The most noteable that I keep meeting up with everyday, my boyfriend of (3 years or so now?) - A13x. I also met up with Denny (who recently stayed with us here in Adelaide <3), Tina, Puddingfork, Joseph, Dopp, Darunia, Mike, and my memory is hazy at this time of morning and I can't remember forum names to go with faces from a couple of one-off meet ups >_<

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

For me it's actually been a huge influence. I've finally met people and made good friends that share my interests. I met my boyfriend here (completely without the intention of pursuing a lovelife on a site like this). I've opened up from being a closet gamer and I'm not so ashamed to be who I am.

[John Marston]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

Ages ago i would say 2-3 years ago but i keep changing username so its hard to know when.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

I was a gamer when i joined. No it has not changed.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

Fuck no lol Maybe with the losing weight thing but i am not sure.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Yes yes oh god yes

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Nah i have always wanted to get into retail and i will probably always will.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

Heaps Feitdchimp, Leon J, Admeister, El Taco, Ittekimasu, efo, retroman. A L E X (lol inside joke) Its such a great place to stalk people ohh shit i mean meet.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

Nope

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Yes love it, it has kept me sain when i have been losing weight.
_________________

3ds code 1891 1272 0232 add us

[Scrav]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

2007

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

Console/PC rpg's - still pretty much the same.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

Probably not

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Not really

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Nope

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

I probably haven't really made any friends specifically due to gaming, but more real life/general forum discussions.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

Nope - Joseph works in my old work area with some of my friends and old work colleagues, but still haven't actually met him yet.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Nope

[Jahanzeb]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

In 2009 to become a writer.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

Fighting games and RPGs when I joined PALGN, I still do but lately I have been getting into shmups and 2D shooters thanks to people like Bev, lapzod and mr.cool.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

I write for the site and started the Sound Test feature.

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Really has, getting to meet game developers and constantly exposed to gaming news. The RPG thread is an awesome place to learn about really niche RPGs and how they play.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

I enjoy writing and creativity, so I'm currently working towards a career in academia.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

I'm good friends with Jeremy, Anthony, Michael Pincott (former writer), Adam, Jarrod, Gresszilla (a.k.a crescent fresh) rock and roll star Michael Gale (a.k.a buttmouth), Cody, Spacebreak and all the guys and gals in the RPG and shmup thread.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

I see Jeremy and crescentfresh quite frequently for lunches and general chill outs (sports, pool, trips to JB etc).

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

It's a big part of my life as a writer so yes, it really has influenced me alot.
_________________

Now Playing:
Sonic Generations

[Chopbusted]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?

November 2007. I think I joined up to buy a game from the Game Exchange But you can't blame me ... PALGN should be proud to have what I think is the very best trading forum in Australia.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?

I think I had only just bought an Xbox 360 back then. I always had consoles and PC games while growing up but I had gone off gaming for a year or so before getting the 360. Now (thanks mainly to PALGN) I have all the latest consoles, a DS, a PSP and a pretty spiffy PC to enjoy all the latest games.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)

When PALGN setup their own Play-Asia Affiliate Link, I tried to help out and contribute many of my own discount coupons (and encourage others to do the same) for people to use with the link which would generate credit for PALGN to buy games for giveaways and competitions. I'm sure it helped generate a bit of credit but I'm still to see it being used.

I also try to help out as much as I can when someone has a technical question, and I'm very proud of my 100% positive feedback in the Game Exchange =)

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Yes, very much so. Before PALGN gaming was just a very casual hobby. Now I check every new post on PALGN most days, read gaming news, etc, etc.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?

Unfortunately not. My work and my gaming are bitter enemies haha. I wish I had more time to play games, but it's getting harder and harder to find the time.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?

While I haven't become besties with anyone here or anything, I do feel like I'm friends with alot of the members because it's a great, friendly community. I love logging on each day and seeing all the familiar names of the regulars. And seeing how many members have been here for years shows just how good a place this really is.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?

Not really, only breifly met a few people from some pickup/drop offs from the Game Exchange.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?

Yeah, I'd say it has. I'm the type of person that needs a hobby or interest to obsess over (well not that bad haha but to keep me occupied - you know what I mean!). It often changes from one thing to the next, but since joining PALGN, gaming has been it!
_________________


Buy games for less at Play-Asia: http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-9tbz-49-en.html

[admeister]

1. When did you join PALGN and why did you join?
As to when, it's under my user name, feels like ages ago! As to why, I think I was trying to sell one of my games. I'd been lurking for about a year before that though.

2. What were your initial gaming interests when you joined PALGN, and have they changed at all since? If so, how?
My interests were mainly in RPGs. I'm still heavily into them, but nowadays the range of genres I play has expanded a lot, I'll play pretty much anything that's not a racer, FPS, or sports game if I think it looks good.

3. Do you feel like you've contributed anything to the community, and if so, name a few things you think are worth mentioning (e.g. Popular threads, site suggestions, competitions, staff involvement)
11,967 posts and counting! I also created the Gaming Collections thread, 55 pages and still going!

4. Has PALGN increased your knowledge of the gaming industry in general?

Definitely, PALGN became my main source of gaming news for some time. These days I tend to get stuff from all over the place, but I'm always learning new things here.

5. Has PALGN given you any inspirations towards your career path?
It probably influenced me in making the choice to study Interactive Media at TAFE in the hopes of getting into the games industry. That didn't work out though.

6. Have you made any friendships since joining PALGN that you feel you could only have made through a site like this; one that brings people of similar interests together?
Heaps of friendships! Some particularly notable people: John Marston, Vervain, Charly, Kyle Clarthy.

7. Have you met anyone from PALGN, and if so, do you still meet up with [any of] them often?
Feels like I've met about half of them, pretty much all the ones in Melbourne! I meet them whenever we organise a meet, bump into each other, or arrange to meet.

8. Overall, do you think PALGN has made any major influences on your life?
As I said, it probably influenced my desire to get into the games industry for a career. I browse the forums every day, and post almost as often, so I'd say that's definitely an impact! It also made me want to be a game reviewer/writer, something that I've pursued and enjoyed.
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"The first person to prove that cow's milk is drinkable was very, very thirsty." - Fact Sphere.